Letters from Albert Charles Cox to his mother, 1915-1916 - Part 9

all correspondents if you please dear. We started a Mess of our

own to-day & yours truly is the Secretary. It is not such a 

bad job for one gets a little time off to make purchases etc, &

I had a look at Ismailia to-day. It is an awfully pretty

place, inhabited mostly by French people, with apparently very

few shops. The houses are very cosy looking & all have beautiful

gardens, in fact the whole place is a garden pure & simple.

It reminds me somewhat of Mt. Wilson which will probably

sound strange to you. I can't tell you much of our doings,

as much as I should like to, but it will keep.

Saw Jack Cosgrove who saved a few of us by producing

some drinks after the march, & ^he wished to be remembered to you.

Got a fair idea of what it is like to be thirsty that day.

Having a yarn to a chap named Lovett to-night who

lived in Dubbo for several years & knows all our acquaintances.

It is fine to talk over olden days with someone who has lived

in the same spot.

Have not heard of Mr Titmus yet, but a chap is going

up to town to-morrow whom I shall put on the hunt for him.

Am anxiously looking forward to eating the contents of the box.

Shall have to close here dear, with best of love

from your loving son

Bert.

Egypt

2/4/16

 

Dearest,

I know you don't mind reading a letter written

in pencil, so shall save the ink for the envelope. Have

not received a letter from you for over a week now, but

I did get to-day your photos & a "Times". Many thanks

& I think the photos are A.1. for which I shall buy frames

next time in town. Am jolly pleased to have them, for

they xxxxx set off the "dressing table", as well as they are making it possible to have a look at you now & again to remember what

you look like (?). Not that I have forgotten dear.

You will be pleased to hear your son went to early

Communion as well as Church parade to-day. It was not the

first time, but it may lead you to think so, as I don't

think I mentioned it before. Quite a pleasant day to-day

although a fair wind has been blowing, but the heat has

lapsed for a while. Slept with three blankets on top last

night, so you can see the nights are not too bad, in fact

there has been only one night that one blanket was

sufficient. Old Passmore who came away with me has

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a permanent job in Cairo, so is able to keep up ^to the

requirements of his thirst & over quite well. He has

certainly caused a good deal of amusement wherever he

has been & we still have a bit of fun recounting

incidents connected with him. A chap has just brought

me in a Sydney Mail of 9 Feb in which there is a photo

of the Port Lincoln surrounded by the names of some of the

boys on board. Unfortunately it is not one that I signed.

Hundreds of the same kind were sent home.

3/4/16

Had two letters & another "Times" from you to-day which

needless to say were as welcome as ever. Am afraid

there will be a bit of a lapse between letters by this

mail & the last, for there is no talk of a mail going

out yet. The chap whom I gave a card to in case he

found Mr Titmus, returned to-day & am pleased to

say found him at the Continental, but the box was

at the Gift store & he had not time to take delivery,

but there is sure to be someone going up to Cairo

shortly. Hope the soldier did not tell you too much

about Cairo, so as to give you an extra longing to

go there. Don't think it would please you very

much now, but a trip there in the season a few

years hence would probably not be too bad.

Mrs Lowen sent a Bulletin to me which arrived to-day

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& I do hope Sir Geo Barlow offers to help her out of her difficulties

& not wait for me to. I can quite imagine the emotion

displayed in his presence. I wonder if Mollie will ever

be able to make up her mind - it is a wonder you are

not sick of it all by this. Hope the house was not damaged

the night they argued it out. Cut out the lectures

sweetheart, & let your mind rest easy with regard to

this chicken, notwithstanding the fact the Jean may tell

you she thinks there is some improvement. Still following

the King but have not been able to quite catch him yet.

Of course I have already told you that I had met Cessie's

brother, but have very little to do with him, & am not in

the least bit sorry, for "tykes" don't appeal to me. He is

gathering quite a lot of the clan together. We are quite

a separate unit & live apart from all the others, so it does

not matter "so long as all the boys are happy" as Jack

Cosgrove would say. In your last letter received, you

mention Turquoise earrings & last time in Cairo when the

£30 arrived I was looking for a pair, but could not find

any decent looking ones, so did not do anything as there was

not time to get them made in order to see that they

went alright. Am broke again now, but may get a chance

later on if we remain here, which I sincerely hope will

not be for much longer. Just had issued no end of

cigarettes, chocolates, candles, condensed milk etc from

the gift stores, which should keep us going for a

week. It is wonderful what the people are doing

for the soldiers, & by jove it is appreciated.

4/4/16

Another Times arrived to-day so have had

quite a lot of reading matter during the last

few days. Should be glad to get the "Sydney

Mail" now & again, especially if they accept

any of the negatives which I asked you to

show them. Have not taken any phtos

for some time but will have some shortly

no doubt.

Best of love ^to all from

Bert.

P.S. Will drop Lonie a line shortly

2

Egypt

6/4/16

 

Dearest,

It is becoming almost ludicrous to put "on active service"

on the envelopes, for as far there have not been any strenuous

duties imposed upon yours truly such as the words imply,

but more like a holiday. Of course there is work to do, but

it is all so interesting that it is nothing really but

pleasure. Yesterday I had a trip into the town (not Cairo)

on a great neddy, & it is great to get into the saddle again.

To-day I also had to go in on duty connected with the Mess,

but rode a bicycle this time for variety. The roads are

great consequently the going is not at all heavy, & there is

an avenue about a mile long this side of the town which gives

plenty of shade from the sun. The mess is making great

strides and so far is as good as any I have been in if not better.

We have an excellent cook who can dish up a dinner equal

to a good [?] for which you pay 7/6 for.   It is quite

probable that 10/- per week each will defray all costs. I struck

a bargain in obtaining a secondhand stove for two pounds

as good as new, which of course makes it a lot easier.

11/4/16

2.

A couple of us had horses all day on Sunday & managed

to put in the time very well as you may imagine. We

have not our own yet, but a few "light horse" are quite

handy & we keep well in with them. Asking them to

dinner to-night & of course have an extra course on.

We are all quite convinced of the excellence of our tucker &

have a five course meal every night. No desire to go

into town for a meal now.

Am asking a chap to try & get the box of delicacies

for me, who is going to Cairo to-night. A pretty

fair shower of rain has just set in (1pm) & will

possibly lay some of the dust, of which there has been

a fair proportion during the last few days.

Just posted a couple of letters written to you

several days ago, but as there was no censor stamp

available I had to hold them over. In any case I

don't think there was  a mail since the 2nd inst.

12/4/16

Had a letter from Val. yesterday telling me all the cricket news, &

that Mr & Mrs Firth were in Hobart, consequently he was spending

a good deal of time at "Uralla". A funny thing; I have never

had a note of any description from one of the Firth family since

I left.

Just come in from a very amusing dinner to which old

Passmore blew in to see how we were getting along. He is

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still as funny as ever & had us roaring with laughter till

he left. He had to catch a train shortly after Mess & was

worrying a great deal over having to walk the four miles to

the station when we happened to get a car for him, without

which I am sure he would never have reached the station.

On my return to the tent I also found four letters; two

from you, & one from Gran & Mrs Neilly so am finishing the day

well. Just at present one of the windstorms happens to be

blowing & I am expecting the tent to come down any minute.

Of course the usual quantity of dust is with it.

It is a pity to think the Butler's should carry on so with

Harley, & apparently absence does not make the heart grow

fonder in their case. Have not seen either of the "beaux" for

some time & don't expect to. Gran mentioned that Jim was

going into Joe's office shortly. Am not taking it seriously & 

sincerely hope it is not the case, for I don't think it would

be for the best, although he always seemed fond of Joe, but

such things seem to lapse in business etc.

My batman has just brought me in a third letter from

you dated 18th Feb. in which you mention the fact that Joe

wanted Jim to go to him, but I am still of the same

opinion if it interests you.

13/4/16

Our little windstorm died down during the night, but it

commenced again at 10 o'clock this morning with the force of

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a gale & has been getting stronger ever since (now after 2 o'c)

I can quite imagine that these storms make a difference of

three feet in the canal, for there is practically an inch

difference in my tent now. Just had to put in a few

12 inch pegs to hold the tent up, for I almost lost it once.

Will probably be quite used to them shortly though, for I

believe they occur about every ten days.

Just had five more letters including one from you

dated 25th Feb. which has some what dulled the edge of

my feelings. A p.c. from Louie was amongst them.

You acknowledge receipt of my cable informing you of

my transfer to the 53rd, but you did not alter the address

on the envelopes. In any case you will have received

my further address by letter ere this. Hope Eric will

get into Vicars for it will be great experience for him &

we may be able to discuss the Machine Guns which they

make for us.

Well! Job is really going to Joe so I can only wish

he does get on well, & manage Colliver successfully which

certainly is not an easy matter. Perhaps I was rather

sensitive, but have lost most of it now I think old dear.

Am still sensitive of the dust blowing about though. Even

though you do forget it for a minute, an extra gust awakens

you to the fact when the tent pole creaks a bit.

As you say, Easter at Leura would not be too bad

5.

& I hope you go for the change, as the summer must have

knocked you up a bit. My cake was to have arrived

to-day, but the carrier has ^either lost his way or is awaiting

until he can see his way here.

Just as I finished writing the last paragraph the box

of eatables was brought to the tent & I have already sampled

the chocolate which is excellent. Shall not unwrap the cake

until this damned wind has dried away though. Very 

many thanks dear, for I can assure you the contents will

be very much appreciated, even more so in the eating than

in looks.

Later:- Had a tin of asparagus for dinner, which went

excellently, & the best I have had for a long time. The

wind has practically died down now & we are able to open

the tents for some fresh air before retiring. Have not been

able to get on Corky's track & have given up looking for

him as the cake is sure to have vanished ere this. No

doubt he enjoyed it as much as I should.

14/4/16

Pretty fair wind again this morning, but just before dinner

rain started, & we have had some pretty heavy falls, which has

laid the dust for a few hours at least. Received a Town &

Country to-day from Mrs Neilly, & noticed yours & Mrs Newsome's

names in it being at the 13th Batt. rooms. You mentioned

it in a letter a few days ago. Will close this letter here as